Class40 is a class of

monohull image:monohull.svg, right A monohull is a type of boat having only one hull (watercraft), hull, unlike multihulled boats which can have two or more individual hulls connected to one another. Fundamental concept Among the earliest hulls were simple ...

sailboat A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails and is smaller than a sailing ship. Distinctions in what constitutes a sailing boat and ship vary by region and maritime culture. Types Although sailboat terminology ...

and a yacht primarily used for short handed offshore and coastal racing. The class is administered by International Class40 Association which is recognised by the

World Sailing World Sailing (WS) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). History The creation of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) beg ...

Background

In 2004 former Vendee Globe and Whitbread competitor,

Patrice Carpentier Patrice Carpentier is a French professional sailor born on 10 January 1950 in Falaise, Calvados. He holds a BA in letters. Married with four children, he lives in La Trinidad-sur-Mer. He writes for Race Au Large and SeaHorse Magazine. He becam ...

, brought together designers, builders and sailors to formulate a new accessible class of shorthanded offshore racing boats. Now with more than 160 boats, the Class has become the most successful offshore racing class. The class is not to be confused with the Open 40 which in many ways led the way to this class. The "Class40" can be designed by anyone provided the boat fits within the measurement rule defined. This rule takes the form of a box rule. The association is responsible for defining and updating the class rules for the boats, and has the additional aims of co-ordinating events. Class 40 monohulls outnumbered all other boat classes during their first appearance in the 2006

Route du Rhum The Route du Rhum is a transatlantic single-handed yacht race, which takes place every four years in November. The course is between Saint Malo, Brittany, Metropolitan France and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, overseas France. The first competiti ...

, with 25 boats registered. The Class 40 monohulls are high-performance racing boats, designed principally for single-handed or small crew offshore competition. Class 40 monohulls sit in size between boats the small offshore classes of the

Classe Mini Mini Transat 6.50 also known by a number of alternatives Mini, Class Mini, Transat 650 is a development measurement controlled offshore sailing primarily used for racing in the Mini Transat Race hence the name. Background History The Classe Min ...

and Beneteau Figaro 3 and the pinnacle class the

IMOCA 60 The IMOCA ("Open 60"), is a 60ft development class monohull sailing yacht administered by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA). The class pinnacle event are single or two person ocean races, such as the Route du Rhum and th ...

. Single and double-handed sailing represents a rapidly growing sector of the sport of sailing. The Class 40 is a cheaper boat that can be sailed competitively in a range of conditions either short handed, by two people, or a solo sailor. The class is active in Europe, but growing in North America. Boats are built on a semi-production or custom basis. The class rules though work to keep the boat affordable, limiting exotic materials and equipment seen in high end offshore boats such as the IMOCA 60. Though some boats are sailed by pro sailors, the amateur class continues to grow as sailors look for the next challenge in offshore sailing.

Events

Class Starts - Oceanic Races

Solo Transatlantic Race starting in France *

Transat Jacques Vabre The Transat Jacques Vabre is a yachting race that follows the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. It is named after (and sponsored by) a French brand of coffee. The course was drawn up back in 1993 to follow in the wake of ...

Two Person Transatlantic Race starting in France * Globe 40 Race Two Person Stopping Round the World Race

World Championships

Other Events with Class Starts

Atlantic Cup
Charleston-New York-Newport May Bi-Annually * Rolex

Fastnet Race The Fastnet Race is a biennial offshore yacht race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club of the United Kingdom with the assistance of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and the City of Cherbourg in France. The race is named after the Fastnet ...

Other Events

The class has had numerous success in most of the prestigious offshore events.

The records

These records are usually calculated by race directions but not endorsed by the

World Sailing Speed Record Council The World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) was founded in 1972, initially to ratify records at the inaugural Weymouth Speed Week held every year since in Portland Harbor.The WSSRC is the body authorized by the World Sailing (formerly Internati ...

24 Hours Distance

Non-Stop Round Britain and Ireland

References

External links

Official web site
of the International Class 40 association
North American Official web site
of the North American Class 40 association
World Sailing Class 40 Microsite
* Charter – Express 40 offshore racing yacht * - Akilaria.fr - Official French website for the Akilaria Class 40 monohull
- Owen Clarke Design - Designers of custom and semi custom Class 40's, of which three sailing are racing in the USA, including the 2008 Class 40 world champion, 40 Degrees.
Sailing yachts Single-handed sailing Classes of World Sailing Box rule sailing classes {{water-transport-stub